Load handling vehicle

ABSTRACT

A load handling vehicle ( 10 ) of the kind specified wherein the load carrying means comprises a boom ( 20 ) pivotally mounted to the structure forwardly ( 11 ) of the operator&#39;s position ( 17 ) and wherein cooling means ( 40 ) for the motor are disposed at one side of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a load handling vehicle, hereinafterreferred to as being of the kind specified, comprising a structurehaving a load handling means at a front end of the vehicle, power meansto raise said load handling means, ground engageable propulsion meanscomprising a pair of front ground engageable wheels disposed one at eachside of the vehicle and a pair of rear ground engageable wheels disposedone at each side of the vehicle, an operator's position, an engine toprovide power for said propulsion means to drive at least one of saidpairs of wheels and for said power means to raise the load handingmeans, said engine being disposed towards the front pair of wheels.

[0002] The invention is particularly concerned with a vehicle of thekind specified which is used for load handling in construction and likeactivities comprising an operator's position disposed in a cab, with theload handling means located forwardly of the cab, and conventionallycomprising a bucket or similar, and a further load handling meanscomprising a backhoe loader disposed rearwardly of the cab.

[0003] Conventionally such vehicles have a large enclosure disposedforwardly of the operator's cab and centrally of the vehicle, in whichis located said engine and, forwardly thereof, a cooling meanscomprising a cooling fan and a radiator for coolant liquid of the enginethrough which air is drawn by the fan. The forward load handling meansis mounted on a pair of generally parallel arms pivotally attachedforwardly of the cab and extending one either side of the enclosure.Such a configuration suffers from obstructed lines of sight when theoperator is attempting to operate the forward load handling means. Inparticular, the operator cannot see the load handling means when it isin its lowered position.

[0004] An aim of the invention is to provide a new or improved loadhandling vehicle.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide a loadhandling vehicle of the kind specified wherein the load carrying meansis mounted on a boom pivotally mounted to the structure forwardly of theoperator's position.

[0006] Said boom may be disposed on the longitudinal centre line of saidvehicle.

[0007] Alternatively, said boom may be offset from the longitudinalcentre line of said vehicle.

[0008] The centre line of the boom may be offset by a distance in therange 0 cm to 275 cm from the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle.

[0009] The vehicle may comprise cooling means which may be disposed at aside part of the vehicle.

[0010] The cooling means may be disposed at a side part of the vehiclebetween a front wheel and a rear wheel of the vehicle.

[0011] The cooling means may comprise a fan operable to draw air througha heat exchange means.

[0012] The heat exchange means may comprise one or more of an enginewater coolant radiator, a hydraulic oil cooler, a transmission oilcooler and an air conditioning condenser.

[0013] The transmission oil cooler may comprise a torque converter oilcooler.

[0014] The cooling fan may be driven by a hydraulic motor.

[0015] The cooling means may comprise an enclosure having an upper wall,said upper wall comprising an inlet through which air is drawn by saidfan.

[0016] The cooling means may comprise an enclosure having a side wall,said side wall having an aperture through which air is expelled from theinterior of said enclosure by said fan.

[0017] The boom may comprise a mechanical self-levelling arm.

[0018] The boom may comprise a box section component.

[0019] The boom may comprise a telescopic boom.

[0020] The operator's position may comprise an operator's seat movablebetween a first position wherein the seat is located on the longitudinalcentre line of the vehicle and a second position wherein the seat isoffset from the centre line of the vehicle.

[0021] Said seat may pivotable about a vertical axis, said vertical axisbeing disposed away from the centre line of said vehicle.

[0022] When the seat is in a first position, said seat may facegenerally rearwardly of the vehicle to permit the operator to operate aload handling means disposed rearwardly of the operator's position.

[0023] When the seat is in its second position, the seat may facegenerally forwardly of the vehicle to permit the operator to operate aload handling means disposed forwardly of the position.

[0024] When said boom is offset from the longitudinal centre-line of thevehicle and when said seat is in its second position, said seat may beoffset from the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle on an oppositeside of the centre line to the boom.

[0025] The engine means may be disposed forwardly of the operator'sposition.

[0026] The engine may be disposed such that a vertical plane containingthe longitudinal centre line of the vehicle intersects the engine.

[0027] The engine may drive a transmission and the engine may bedisposed wholly or partly below the operator's position.

[0028] The transmission may drive a hydraulic pump to provide fluidpressure.

[0029] The pump may be disposed below the operator's position.

[0030] A driver's line of sight may extend downwardly at an angle to thehorizontal in the range 29° to 35° and preferably about 32° over a frontpart of the vehicle.

[0031] The uppermost part of the boom assembly may be disposed below ahorizontal plane including the driver's eye level, preferably such thatthe driver can see downwardly over the uppermost part of the boomassembly at an angle to the horizontal in the range of 10° to 17° andpreferably about 14°.

[0032] The invention will now be described by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:—

[0033]FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front and to the side of avehicle according to the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 2 is a perspective view from another direction of the vehicleof FIG. 1;

[0035]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a chassis of the vehicle of FIG.1;

[0036]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a vehicle similar to thevehicle of FIG. 1;

[0037]FIG. 5 is a partly cut away perspective view of part of a chassisof the vehicle of FIG. 4 showing an engine and transmission;

[0038]FIG. 6 is a partly cut away side view of the vehicle of FIG. 4;

[0039]FIG. 7 is a front view of part of a chassis of a vehicle of analternative configuration,

[0040]FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of a vehicle of the alternativeconfiguration of FIG. 7,

[0041]FIG. 9 is a perspective view from the front and to the side of afurther vehicle according to the present invention,

[0042]FIG. 10 is a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 9,

[0043]FIG. 11 is a further side view of the vehicle of FIG. 9, and

[0044]FIG. 12 is a view of part of the vehicle of FIG. 9 on a largerscale.

[0045] The vehicles shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 and 9 to 11 differ in minorcomponents from that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but in respects relevant tothe present invention are similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 3 and, mutatismutandis, features of any vehicle as described herein may be provided onanother vehicle as described herein.

[0046] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle of the kind specifiedis shown at 10, comprising a forward region 11 and a rearward region 12.Disposed in the forward region 11 are a pair of front ground engageablewheels 13 which are spaced apart widthwise of the vehicle so as to bedisposed one on either side 14, 15 of the vehicle. Similarly, in therearward region 12 of the vehicle are provided a pair of rear groundengageable wheels 16 disposed widthwise of the vehicle so as to bedisposed one at each side 14, 15 of the vehicle. Disposed generallytowards the rear of the vehicle is an operator's position comprising anoperator's cab 17 having an operator's seat 18. As shown in the planview of FIG. 4, the operator's seat may be movable between twopositions, a first position shown in dashed outline wherein theoperator's seat faces in a rearward direction and a second positionshown in solid outline where the operator's seat faces in a forwarddirection. A forward control position 57 is disposed forwardly of thecab, comprising means to drive the vehicle and operate the boom assembly20, and a rearward control position 58 is disposed rearwardly of the cabto operate a rear load handling means (not shown). A boom assembly 20,comprising a boom 20 a of conventional box section, is pivotally mountedon pivot means 21 disposed forwardly of the operator's cab 17. In thepresent example, the boom has a width of 250 mm.

[0047] As best seen in FIG. 3, the vehicle is provided with a chassisgenerally indicated at 22 comprising a pair of generally parallellongitudinally extending members 23. Said longitudinally extendingmembers 23 are interconnected towards their rear end by a reartransverse connection member 24, in this example in the form of a boxbeam, and towards their forward ends by a forward transverse connectionmember 25. The longitudinally extending members 23 and the transverseconnection members 24, 25 define a volume V therebetween which maywholly or partly receive an engine and transmission in a generallyfore-and-aft configuration mounted in conventional manner.

[0048] Disposed attached to the rear ends of the longitudinallyextending members 23 are a pair of generally parallel transverselyextending guide means 26 a, 26 b spaced from one another in a verticaldirection. The ends of the guide means 26 a, 26 b are connected by posts27 to receive stabilising legs of conventional type. The guide means 26a, 26 b may receive suitable load handling means mounted therein, suchas a backhoe. Alternatively, a backhoe may be provided fixed rigidlyrelative to the vehicle, conventionally referred to as a “centre mount”.

[0049] Provided on the longitudinally extending members 23 at a positiontowards the, forward end thereof are a pair of upwardly extending,generally parallel members 28 between which the pivot means 21 extendsto provide a mount for the boom 20. The operator's cab 17 is thuslocated on the longitudinally extending members 23 above the volume Vand rearwardly of the upwardly extending members 28.

[0050] A modification is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. In these Figures avehicle is shown in which a pivot means 21′ comprises a generallycylindrical support member 21′a extending transversely of the vehicle.Disposed on the member 21′a are a pair of upwardly extending spaced ears21′b and a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending ears 21′c. Theupwardly extending ears 21′a are provided with circular apertures, whichreceive generally cylindrical pivot elements 20′a extending transverselyoutwardly of the boom assembly 20. The boom assembly 20 furthercomprises generally triangular bracing elements 20′b attached to theboom assembly 20 and the pivot elements 20′a. When the fluid operatedrams 29 are actuated, the boom assembly 20 pivots about the pivotelements 20′a. As seen in FIG. 5, the engine and transmission aredisposed towards the front wheels in a forward part of the volume V,such that the major part of the engine is disposed below the boomassembly 20, while, as best seen in FIG. 6, the transmission is locatedbeneath a forward part of the operator's cab 17.

[0051] Lift means comprising fluid operated rams 29 are pivotallyattached by first pivot means 30 a to the boom 20, and by second pivotmeans 30 b to a lower part of the upwardly extending members 28. Theboom 20 is provided with a material handling implement comprising, inthe present example, a bucket 31 which is pivotally mounted on the boom20 for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally horizontalaxis, such that the boom extends along a central axis of the bucket. Anysuitable material handling implement may be provided as desired.Generally the bucket is generally disposed transversely of the vehicleand if a non-central position of the boom 20 is provided then the boomis correspondingly off set on the bucket.

[0052] A fluid pressure operated crowd ram means 32 is provided operableto pivot the bucket about said generally horizontal axis. The crowd rammeans 32 is connected to the bucket 31 by way of a conventional selflevelling system. A ram 32 a of the crowd ram means 32 is connected by apin 33 to a generally horizontal pair of bucket links 34 at one endthereof and a pair of generally parallel arm links 35 disposed outwardlyof the bucket links 34. The bucket links 34 are pivotally connected attheir other end to the bucket 31, whilst the boom links 35 extendalongside opposite faces of the boom 20 and are pivotably attachedthereto by boom link connection means 36.

[0053] In the alternative configuration of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the bucketlinks 34 of the self-levelling system are replaced with a link assembly34′ of generally Y-shaped configuration. One end 34′a of the assembly34′ is attached to the crowd ram means 32 by a pin 33 and to a pair ofcurved boom links 35′ generally equivalent to the boom links 35 of FIGS.1 to 3. The pair of ends 34′b of the assembly 34′ are pivotally attachedto a material handling implement carrier 31′ which may receive a fork ora bucket or any other material handling implement as desired. In bothconfigurations a pair of transverse links 37 are disposed generallyparallel to one another one either side of the boom and pivotallyconnected thereto by transverse link connection means 38 rearwardly ofthe first pivot means 30 a. A cylinder 32 b of the crowd ram means 32 ispivotally connected to an upper part of the transverse links 37. A pairof lower guide links 39 are disposed one either side of the boom andconnected between first guide link pivot means 39 a to the upwardlyextending members 28, and at the other end by second guide linkconnection means 39 b to a downwardly extending part of the transverselinks 37. In the variant shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the forwardly extendingears 21′c receive the first guide link pivot means 39 a.

[0054] Hydraulic fluid for use in the vehicle, for example, in the ramsand hydraulic motor hereinbefore described is provided from a hydraulicreservoir R and is pressurised by a hydraulic pump P disposed beneaththe operator's seat 18 or, where the operator's seat is offset, as shownin FIG. 8 on the longitudinal axis of the machine but at a level belowthe level of the seat 18. In either case the hydraulic pump P is drivenby the engine E. If desired the hydraulic reservoir may be disposed inanother suitable position on the vehicle.

[0055] Disposed at one side 14 of the vehicle is a cooling means 40comprising an enclosure 41 located between the forward wheel 13 and rearwheel 16 on the side 14 of the vehicle 10. Disposed within the enclosure41 is, as best seen in FIG. 4, a fan 42 rotated by a hydraulic motor 42a to draw air through a heat exchange means 43. The axis of rotation ofthe fan 42 is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle at anangle of 90° but which may lie at any other angle as desired, forexample as shown in FIG. 8. In each case the heat exchange means 43 isdisposed transversely to the axis of rotation of the fan 42. The heatexchange means in the present example comprises an engine water coolantradiator 43 a, a hydraulic oil cooler 43 b, a transmission coolercomprising a torque converter oil cooler 43 c. It may also compriseother components such as an air conditioning condenser. If desired oneor more of the above mentioned components may be omitted, oralternatively disposed in front of the engine E but so as to not or notsignificantly affect the height of the cowling 56.

[0056] The enclosure 41 is provided with an upper wall 44 in which afirst aperture 45 provided with a grille is. located. The enclosure 41further comprises a side wall 46 in which a second aperture 47 providedwith a grille is located. The apertures 45, 47 are disposed relative tothe fan 42 such that air is drawn in through the first aperture 45,urged through the heat exchange means 43 and expelled through the secondaperture 47. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous in that,for example, any spray of water from the wheels will not be drawn intothe first aperture 45. Alternatively, air may be drawn in through thesecond aperture 47, urged through the heat exchange means 43 andexpelled through the first aperture 45 if desired..

[0057] On the opposite side 15 of the vehicle 10, a fuel tank 48 andreservoir R for hydraulic fluid is disposed between the front wheel 13and rear wheel 16. The tank 48 is provided with steps 48 a for anoperator attached to the outside thereof. The operator's cab 17 isdisposed centrally of the vehicle 10 and at least partly above the fueltank 48. The operator's cab 17 is provided with a door for the operatoron the same side 15 of the vehicle as the fuel tank 48, and preferablyno door is provided on the same side 14 of the vehicle 10 as the coolingmeans 40. The cooling means 40 and fuel tank 48 are attached to an outerface of the respective longitudinally extending member 23.

[0058] A forward cowling 56, is provided over the forward part of thechassis beneath the boom 20. Since the heat exchange means 43 aredisposed at the side 14 of the vehicle 10, the forward cowling 56 is notrestricted by a requirement to accommodate the cooling means. Thecowling 56 is thus shaped to curve downwardly in a forward direction soas to permit the boom 20 to be lowered to a lowermost desired positionas seen in FIG. 6 and to provide a substantially improved line of sightforwardly and downwardly of the vehicle for an operator in theoperator's cab 17.

[0059] As best shown in FIG. 6 the driver's line of sight LOS is thusdefined by the height of the driver's eye level, the height of that partof the cowling 56 which is tangential to the driver's line of sight, andthe horizontal distance between the driver's eye position EP and thetangential point of the cowling 56. The driver's line of sighttangential to the cowling 56 thus makes an angle with the horizontalgiven by arctan $\left( \frac{{H1} - {H2}}{D1} \right),$

[0060] where H1 is the height of the driver's eye position above theground, H2 is the height of the tangential point of the cowling 56 abovethe ground and D1 is the horizontal distance between vertical planeperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle containing thedriver's eye position and the tangential point of the cowling. Assumingthe material handling vehicle is on perfectly level ground, the nearestpoint on the ground the driver can see over the engine cowling 56 is adistance D2= $\left( \frac{{D1} \cdot {H1}}{{H1} - {H2}} \right)$

[0061] forwardly of the vertical plane comprising the driver's eyeposition. In the present example, H1 is about 2.49 m, H2 is about 1.33 mand D1 is about 1.86 m, but these dimensions may vary, for example, H1may vary by ±10 cm from 2.49 m. The driver can therefore see downwardlyover the cowling 56 at an angle in the range 29° to 35° to thehorizontal in the present example about 32°, and can see the ground at apoint D2 is about 3.4 m ahead of his eye position. In conventionalmachines, with the engine disposed in a higher and more forwarddirection and with the cooling means disposed forwardly of the engine,the view forward of the driver is clearly substantially more obstructed.The view afforded to the driver is also only limited by a relativelynarrow boom, 250 mm in this instance relative to the width of the enginecowling, 800 mm in this example, affording the driver a substantiallyimproved forward and downward view as the driver can see the implementto either side of the boom.

[0062] This improved field of view thus allows the driver to see asignificant part of the bucket 31 or other material handling implement31′, and as will be apparent from FIG. 6 in which the line of sight LOSis marked.

[0063] When the boom is in its lowered position, for example fortravelling on the road, it is further desirable that the driver be ableto see as far ahead as possible over the top of the boom assembly 20. Inthe present example, the height of the highest part of the boom assemblyis below the horizontal plane comprising the driver's eye position. Thedriver can thus see downwardly at an angle defined by arctan$\left( \frac{{H1} - {H3}}{D3} \right),$

[0064] where H1 is the vertical height of the driver's eye positionabove the ground, H3 is the height of the highest part of the boomassembly above the ground level and D3 is the horizontal distancebetween the vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thevehicle comprising the driver's eye position and the highest part of theboom assembly 20 and again, assuming the vehicle is disposed on levelground. The nearest point on the ground which can be seen over thehighest point of the boom assembly 20 is a distance D4 given by$\left( \frac{{D3} \cdot {H1}}{{H1} - {H3}} \right).$

[0065] In the present example, H3 is about 2.04 m and D3 is about 1.85m. The driver can therefore see the ground over the top of the loweredboom assembly 20 at a point about 10.2 m ahead of the vertical planecomprising the driver's eye position and can see downwardly at an anglein the range 10° to 17° to the horizontal, in the present in the presentexample about 14°.

[0066] In the present example, the driver's eye position EP is at aheight of about 0.67 m above a datum level, in the present example aseat index point defined in accordance with ISO standard 5253. In thepresent example, the seat index point is about 1.77 m above ground levelwhen the seat is in the lowermost position. The height of the seat 18 isvariable in the present example over a range of about 6.5 cm. In theexample calculations, EP is about 2.49 m above ground level. Thedriver's eye position is selected such that with variation in driverheight and seat level, it is expected that a majority of drivers willhave an eye position within the range of ±10 cm of EP.

[0067] Disposed at the rear of the vehicle are a pair of stabilisinglegs 49 of conventional nature slidably received in the posts 27.

[0068] In the vehicles of FIGS. 1 to 6, the boom 20 is provided disposedalong the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle. However, it may bedesirable to locate the boom 20 in a position offset from thelongitudinal centre line X of the vehicle 10. In an alternativeconfiguration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the boom 20 is located between theupwardly extending members 28 as discussed above, and is connected tolift means comprising a pair of fluid operated rams 29 as before. Theboom 20 is pivotally mounted on a first pivot pin 50 extending betweenthe upwardly extending members 28. A second transverse pivot pin 51extends between an end part of each fluid operated ram 29 and the boom20. The pivot pins 50, 51 are received in bosses 52 a, 52 b, 53 a, 53 bof unequal length disposed one either side of the boom 20 such that theboom 20 is offset from the centre line of the vehicle in a leftwarddirection as seen in FIG. 7. The crowd ram means 32 and the selflevelling means are mounted on the boom as described herein withreference to the vehicles of FIGS. 1 to 6. The only alteration requiredto provide a self levelling means on an offset boom is that the guidelinks 39 as shown in FIG. 3 are connected to the upwardly extendingmembers 28 by a guide link pivot pin 54 extending between the upwardlyextending members 28. First and second spacers 55 a, 55 b respectivelyof equal lengths are disposed on the pivot pin 54 to maintain the guidelinks 39 in an offset position.

[0069] Such an offset position of the boom results in an improved lineof sight for an operator to observe the operation of the forward loadhandling means, since the operator can view the forward load handlingmeans from a position away from the longitudinal axis of the boom and atan angle thereto and hence has a view of the forward load handling meanssubstantially unobstructed by the boom.

[0070] The downward angle of vision of the drive is still constrained bythe height of the point of the cowling 56 which is tangential to thedriver's line and vision, but the offset location of the boom permitswith improved forward view of the load handling mean along thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle.

[0071] Further, the operator's position may be offset from the centreline X. As best seen in FIG. 8, the operator's seat 18 is movablebetween two positions, a first position shown in dashed outline whereinthe operator's seat 18 faces in a generally rearwards direction, and asecond position shown in solid outline wherein the operator's seat 18faces in a generally forward direction. A forward control means 57′ isdisposed offset from centre line of the vehicle such that it is disposedgenerally forwardly of the operator's seat 18 when the operator's seat18 is in its second position. Advantageously, as seen in FIG. 8, theoperator's seat 18 when in its second position is offset from the centreline X of the vehicle on the opposite side thereof to the boom 20.

[0072] Where a rear load handling means is provided, for example a sideshift backhoe provided on the guide means 26 a, 26 b, a rearward controlmeans 58′ to control said rear load handling means is preferablyprovided such that the rearward control means 58′ is provided generallyrearwardly of the vehicle from the operator's seat 18 when in its firstposition. To permit the operator's seat 18 to move between a firstposition disposed generally on the centre line X of the vehicle and asecond position offset from the centre line X of the vehicle, operatorsseat 18 is pivotable about a vertically extending axis 59 at a pointhalfway between the centre line X of the vehicle and a centre line Y ofthe operator's seat 19. When the operator's seat 19 is pivoted aboutaxis 59 to move from its second position to its first position, theoffset of the axis 59 from the centre line X of the vehicle and theoffset of the centre line Y of the seat 18 from the axis 59 cancel suchthat when the operator's seat 18 is in its first position, the centreline Y of the seat 18 is located over the centre line X of the vehicle.

[0073] Although the boom 20 is shown as a conventional box section onepiece boom, it will be apparent that the boom may comprise, for example,a telescopic boom in which box section components are telescopicallydisposed as described herein with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11, or anyother suitable boom as appropriate. It will be apparent that the boom 20may be located on the centre line X of the vehicle, or offset therefromas desired.

[0074] It will apparent that the operator's seat 18 may be disposed in afixed position or may be pivotable between two or more alternativepositions, and is pivotally connected to the implement carrying means 64by second link pivot 69 e that said fixed position or one or more ofsaid alternative positions may be located on the centre line of thevehicle or offset therefrom as desired. It will further be apparent thatcooling means 40 as shown located on a side of the vehicle 10 may beprovided on any desired material handling vehicle, and not simply avehicle with a forwardly extending boom located forwardly of theoperator's cab 17. If desired the engine may be disposed in anotherdesired position such as rearwardly of the operator's position.

[0075] Referring to FIGS. 9 to 12, as discussed hereinbefore a vehicleaccording to the present invention may be provided with a telescopicboom as appropriate. In FIGS. 9 to 12, a vehicle 10″ embodying thepresent invention is shown provided with a telescopic boom 60. Thevehicle 10″ is substantially the same as the vehicle of FIGS. 1-6 withthe exception of the provision of the boom 60. The boom 60 comprises arearward portion 61 and a forward portion 62 telescopically receivedwithin the rearward portion 61 in conventional manner. An extension ram(not shown) is provided between the boom portions 61 and 62 within therearward portion 61 and is operable to move the forward portion 62telescopically relative to the rearward portion 61 in conventionalmanner. The forward portion 62 comprises a transversely extendingportion 63 at an end thereof, which depends downwardly from the forwardboom part 62 when the boom 60 is in its lowered position as shown inFIG. 10. Provided on the transversely extending portion 63 is animplement carrying means 64 operable to receive a desired load handlingimplement as appropriate, in the present example a bucket 65. Theimplement carrying means 64 is pivotally connected to a transverselyextending part pivot means 66 for pivotable crowding movement about agenerally horizontal axis. A crowd ram means generally indicated at 67is mounted within the transversely extending part 63 connected between aboom pivotal connection 68 and an implement pivotal connection 69. Theimplement pivotal connection 69 is provided on a first link part 69 aprovided with a limb part 69 b pivotally connected to the transverselyextending portion at pivot means 63 a. The first link part 69 a ispivotally connected to a second link part 69 c by a first link pivot 69d, and the second link part 69 c is pivotally connected to the implementcarrying means 64 by a second link pivot 69 e.

[0076] The crowd ram means 67 is operable by supply of fluid underpressure thereto in conventional manner to act on the first link part 69a and second link part 69 c to cause pivotal movement of the implementcarrying means 64.

[0077] The boom 60 is pivotally mounted on the vehicle 10″ by a pivotmeans 70. The pivot means 70 extends between a pair of upwardlyextending generally parallel members 28″ substantially identical to theupwardly extending generally parallel members 28 shown in FIG. 3. Toraise and lower the boom 60, a lift ram means 72 is provided disposedbeneath the rearward portion 61 connected between a boom lift pivotalconnection 73 provided on the boom 70 and a pivotal lift connection 74provided fixed relative to the chassis, in the present example providedin a pair of forwardly extending ears 75 attached to the upwardlyextending generally parallel members 28″. The lift ram means 72 isoperable to raise the boom to its raised position as shown in dashedoutline in FIG. 10 by a supply of fluid under pressure thereto inconventional manner.

[0078] A pair of compensation rams 76 are provided, one located eitherside of the boom 60. The compensation rams 76 are each providedconnected between a forwardly extending ear 77 of the respectivevertically extending member 28″ and a downwardly extending ear 78connected to the rearward portion 61 of the boom 60. The compensationrams 76 are in fluid flow communication with the crowd ram means 67 inconventional manner, such that the bucket 65 or other load handlingimplement carried by the boom 60 maintains its orientation relative tothe ground as the boom 60 is raised or lowered.

[0079] As seen in FIGS. 9 to 11 the vehicle 10″ is provided with a rearbackhoe assembly 80 of conventional type.

[0080] With reference to the arrangement of the engine E, cooling means40 and fuel tank 48, it will be apparent that the disposition of theseelements is the same as or substantially the same as describedhereinbefore with reference to the earlier embodiments. This dispositionof the engine E, cooling means 40 and fuel tank 48 thus permits the boom60 to be located forwardly of the operator's cab 17, in the presentexample along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Due to the locationof the lift ram 72 below the rearward boom part 61, it is necessary thatthe pivot 70 is disposed at a somewhat higher vertical position than thepivots 21, 21′ of FIGS. 1-3 and 4-6. Nevertheless, it will be apparentthat this configuration provides the same advantages as the embodimentsdescribed hereinbefore, in that the driver's view of the bucket 65 andforwardly of the vehicle is substantially unobstructed by the boom 60.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle 10″ is provided at a forward partthereof with a scavenger air inlet 81 to provide some air flow over theengine E. The scavenger air inlet 81 is entirely passive, in that thereis no fan or radiator mechanism provided but in some circumstances asmall fan may be provided to cause air to flow over a turbo charger ofthe engine. The engine cooling functions are performed by the coolingmeans 40 as described hereinbefore.

[0082] In the present specification “comprise” means “includes orconsists of” and “comprising” means “including or consisting of”.

[0083] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or thefollowing claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in theirspecific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosedfunction, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, asappropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, beutilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

1. A load handling vehicle of the kind specified wherein the loadcarrying means comprises a boom pivotally mounted to the structureforwardly of the operator's position.
 2. A vehicle according to claim 1wherein said boom is disposed on the longitudinal centre line of saidvehicle.
 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said boom is offsetfrom the longitudinal centre line of said vehicle.
 4. A vehicleaccording to claim 3 wherein the centre line of the boom is offset by adistance in the range 0 cm to 275 mm from the longitudinal centre lineof the vehicle.
 5. A vehicle according to any one of the precedingclaims wherein cooling means are disposed at one side of the vehicle. 6.A vehicle according to claim 5 wherein the cooling means is disposed ata side part of the vehicle between the front wheel and the rear wheel ofthat side of the vehicle.
 7. A vehicle according to claim 5 or claim 6wherein the cooling means comprises a fan operable to draw air through aheat exchange means.
 8. A vehicle according to claim 7 wherein the heatexchange means comprises one or more of an engine water coolantradiator, a hydraulic oil cooler, a transmission oil cooler and an airconditioning condenser.
 9. A vehicle according to claim 7 or claim 8wherein the cooling fan is driven by a hydraulic motor.
 10. A vehicleaccording to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein said cooling meanscomprises an enclosure having an upper wall, said upper wall comprisingan inlet through which air is drawn by said fan.
 11. A vehicle accordingto any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein said cooling means comprises anenclosure having a side wall, said side wall having an aperture throughwhich air is expelled from the interior of said enclosure by said fan.12. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein theboom comprises a mechanical self-levelling arm.
 13. A vehicle accordingto any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the boom comprises a telescopicboom.
 14. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims whereinthe operator's position comprises an operator's seat movable between afirst position wherein the seat is located on the longitudinal centreline of the vehicle and a second position wherein the seat is offsetfrom the centre line of the vehicle.
 15. A vehicle according to claim 14wherein said seat is pivotable about a vertical axis, said vertical axisbeing disposed away from the centre line of said vehicle.
 16. A vehicleaccording to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein, when the seat is in a firstposition, said seat faces rearwardly of the vehicle to permit theoperator to operate a load handling means disposed rearwardly of theoperator's position.
 17. A vehicle according to any one of claims 14 to16 wherein, when the seat is in its second position, the seat facesgenerally forwardly of the vehicle to permit the operator to operate aload handling means disposed forwardly of the operator's position. 18.An apparatus according to claim 17 where dependent directly orindirectly on claim 3 where said seat, when in its second position, isoffset from the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle on an oppositeside of the centre line to the boom.
 19. A vehicle according to any oneof the preceding claims comprising an engine wherein the engine isdisposed forwardly of the operator's position.
 20. A vehicle accordingto claim 19 wherein the engine is disposed such that a vertical planecontaining the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle intersects theengine.
 21. A vehicle according to claim 19 or claim 20 wherein theengine drives a transmission, the transmission being disposed wholly orpartly below the operator's position.
 22. A vehicle according to claim21 wherein the transmission drives a hydraulic pump to provide fluidpressure.
 23. A vehicle according to claim 22 wherein the pump isdisposed below the operator's position.
 24. A vehicle according to anyone of the preceding claims wherein a driver's line of sight extendsdownwardly at an angle to the horizontal in the range 29° to 35° andpreferably about 32° over a front part of the vehicle.
 25. A vehicleaccording to any one of the preceding claims wherein an uppermost partof the boom assembly is disposed below a horizontal plane including thedriver's eye level.
 26. A vehicle according to claim 25 wherein theuppermost part of the boom axially is disposed below the horizontalplane including the driver's eye level such that the driver can seedownwardly over the uppermost part of the boom assembly at an angle inthe range 10° to 17° to the horizontal and preferably about 14°.
 27. Avehicle as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.28. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described hereinand/or in the accompanying drawings.